Organic light emitting display device including a sound generating apparatus

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an organic light emitting display device which directly vibrates an organic light emitting display panel to generate sound, and includes: an organic light emitting display panel including a light emitting layer including an organic light emitting material layer and an encapsulation layer disposed at one side of the light emitting layer; and a sound generating actuator in direct contact with the organic light emitting display panel to vibrate the organic light emitting display panel to generate sound. Especially, the organic light emitting display panel is a bottom emission type device, and thus can prevent generation of a weighted color mixing phenomenon in a wide viewing angle at the time of panel vibration and reduce the thickness or weight of the panel to thereby enhance the sound generation characteristic.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/388,939, filedDec. 22, 2016, and also claims priority from Korean Patent ApplicationNo. 10-2016-0041384, filed on Apr. 5, 2016, both of which are herebyincorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to an Organic Light Emitting Display(OLED) device and, more particularly, to an organic light emittingdisplay device including a sound generating apparatus configured todirectly vibrate an organic light emitting display panel to generatesound.

2. Description of the Prior Art

With the development of various portable electronic devices, such asmobile communication terminals and notebook computers, there has been anincreased interest in developing flat panel display devices applicablethereto.

Such flat panel display devices include a Liquid Crystal Display Device,a Plasma Display Panel, a Field Emission Display Device, a LightEmitting Diode Display Device, and an Organic Light Emitting DiodeDisplay Device.

Among these display devices, the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) deviceincludes: an array substrate including a thin film transistor; an uppersubstrate including a color filter and/or a black matrix; and a liquidcrystal material layer formed therebetween, wherein an alignment stateof the liquid crystal layer is controlled according to an electric fieldapplied between opposite electrodes of a pixel area, and thereby thetransmittance of light is adjusted to display an image.

In a display panel of such a liquid crystal display device, an ActiveArea (AA) configured to provide an image to a user and a Non-active Area(NA), which is a peripheral area of the Active Area (AA), are defined.The display panel is usually manufactured by attaching a firstsubstrate, which is an array substrate having a thin film transistorformed therein to define a pixel area, and a second substrate, which isan upper substrate having a black matrix and/or color filter layerformed thereon, to each other.

The array substrate or first substrate, on which a thin film transistoris formed, includes a plurality of gate lines GS extending in a firstdirection and a plurality of data lines DL extending in a seconddirection perpendicular to the first direction, and one pixel area P isdefined by each gate line and each data line. One or more thin filmtransistors are formed in one pixel area P, and gate and sourceelectrodes of each thin film transistor may be connected to a gate lineand a data line, respectively.

Among the above-mentioned display devices, the liquid crystal displaydevice does not have its own light-emitting element and thus needs aseparate light source. Therefore, the liquid crystal display device hasa back-light unit having a light source, such as an LED, which isarranged at the rear surface thereof and irradiates a light toward afront surface of the liquid crystal panel thereof, thereby projecting arecognizable image.

Meanwhile, the organic light emitting display device has recently beenin the spotlight as a display device, because the organic light emittingdisplay device has a fast response rate, high light emitting efficiency,high luminance and a wide viewing angle, which are advantages associatedwith the organic light emitting display device, because the OrganicLight Emitting Diode (OLED) self-emitting element.

Nom Therefore, the organic light emitting display device does notrequire a back-light, which is used in a liquid crystal display deviceusing a non-light-emitting element. Thus, the OLED can be made lighterand thinner than a liquid crystal display devices. Further, the organiclight emitting display device has an excellent viewing angle and anexcellent contrast ratio and is advantageous in view of the powerconsumption, in comparison with the liquid crystal display device.Moreover, the organic light emitting display device can be driven by alow voltage direct current, has a rapid response speed, and includessolid internal components. Therefore, the organic light emitting displaydevice is not damages by an external impact, can be used in a widetemperature range, and requires a low manufacturing cost.

In displaying an image, the organic light emitting display device uses atop emission scheme or a bottom emission scheme according to thestructure of the organic light emitting display device. In the bottomemission scheme, a visible light generated in an organic light emittinglayer is displayed toward the lower side of a substrate having atransistor disposed thereon. In contrast, in the top emission scheme,the visible light generated in the organic light emitting layer isdisplayed toward the upper side of the substrate having a transistordisposed thereon.

In such an organic light emitting display device, sub-pixels includingorganic light emitting diodes are arranged in a matrix form andbrightness of selected sub-pixels by a scan signal, which is controlledbased on the gradation of the data.

Meanwhile, a set apparatus or finished product including such a displaydevice as described above may include, for example, a television (TV), acomputer monitor, and an advertising panel.

Such a display device or set apparatus includes a sound output device,such as a speaker, for generating and outputting sound relating to animage. It is general that a company which manufactures a display device,such as a liquid crystal display device or an organic light emittingdiode display device, manufactures only a display panel or displaydevice, while another company which manufactures a speaker, assemblesthe speaker with the manufactured display device, so as to finallycomplete a set apparatus capable of outputting an image and sound. FIG.1 is a schematic plan view of a speaker included in a conventionaldisplay device. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional display device 1 orset apparatus includes a speaker 2 disposed at a rear or lower part of adisplay panel thereof.

In this structure, the sound generated by the speaker 2 does notprogress toward a viewer, who is viewing an image from the front side ofthe display device 1, but progresses toward the rear side or theunderside of the display panel. Therefore, the sound may disturb theviewer's immersive experience.

Further, when the sound generated from the speaker 2 progresses towardthe rear side or underside of the display panel, the sound quality maybe degraded due to interference with sound reflected by a wall or floor.

Also, the sound generated by a speaker included in the conventionaldisplay device is not oriented toward a viewer of the display device andmay thus undergo diffraction, which degrades sound localization.Moreover, in configuring a set apparatus, such as a TV, a speaker mayoccupy a predetermined space, which imposes a restriction on the designand spatial arrangement of the set apparatus.

Therefore, there has been an increasing interest in developingtechnology which can improve the quality of sound output from a displaydevice and prevent disturbance of the viewer's immersive experience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure has been made to overcome the above-mentionedproblems associated with conventional technology and, in one aspect,provides a panel vibration type sound generating display device, whichcan generate sound by directly vibrating a display panel of the displaydevice.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a display deviceusing an organic light emitting display panel, in which the displaypanel is directly vibrated to generate sound without degrading the imageoutput characteristic, and allows for easy arrangement of the soundgenerating actuator.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an organic lightemitting display device, which directly vibrates a bottom emission typeorganic light emitting display panel to generate sound. Such vibrationshave a lesser influence in bottom emission type devices compared to topemission type devices.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an organic lightemitting display device including a panel vibration type soundgenerating apparatus, which has a support hole formed through a supportpart of the organic light emitting display device and a sound generatingactuator inserted in and fixed to the support hole, so that the displaydevice has a smaller thickness while having an excellent soundgeneration performance. The support part may also be termed a supportmember or support structure.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an organic lightemitting display device, which includes a sound generating baffle partcoupled to the organic light emitting display panel and a supportstructure thereof, which forms an air gap for transferring of sound atan edge of a predetermined area including a sound generating actuator.

In view of the above aspects, an organic light emitting display deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include: anorganic light emitting display panel including a light emitting layerincluding an organic light emitting material layer and an encapsulationlayer disposed at one side of the light emitting layer; and a soundgenerating actuator in direct contact with the organic light emittingdisplay panel to vibrate the organic light emitting display panel togenerate sound.

The organic light emitting display panel according to an exemplaryaspect is a bottom emission type organic light emitting display panel inwhich light of the organic light emitting material layer is emittedthrough the substrate. Further, a surface through which light of theorganic light emitting display panel is emitted, which is an imagedisplaying plane, the light emitting layer and the encapsulation layermay be sequentially laminated under the image displaying plane, and thesound generating actuator may be disposed to be in contact with theencapsulation layer.

In another exemplary aspect, the encapsulation layer in contact with thesound generating actuator may be a metal thin film layer having athickness of 0.05 to 0.2 mm.

In another exemplary aspect, the light emitting layer of the organiclight emitting display panel may employ an R-G-B organic light emittingmaterial layer configured to output lights of red, green, and bluelight, respectively, without a separate color filter, or may include awhite organic light emitting material layer and a color filter layerdisposed on the white organic light emitting material layer.

The display device may further include a support part, such as a coverbottom, configured to cover and support at least a rear surface of theorganic light emitting display panel, wherein the sound generatingactuator is inserted in and fixed to a support hole formed at the coverbottom.

The sound generating actuator may include: a plate inserted in thesupport hole; a magnet disposed on the plate; a center pole disposed ata center of the plate; a bobbin disposed to surround the center pole andbe in contact with the display panel; and a coil wound around thebobbin. The plate may be a lower plate, for example.

The lower plate of the sound generating actuator may further include anextension part extending outward, and the extension part may be fixed tothe lower surface of the cover bottom through a bolt, a PEM™ nut (aswage or self-clinching nut), or an adhesive member.

An air gap may be formed between the organic light emitting displaypanel and the support part, and the display device may further include abaffle part including an adhesive member and a sealing part arrangedbetween the lower surface of the display panel and the upper surface ofthe support member at an edge of the air gap.

An embodiment of the present disclosure as described above can provide apanel vibration type sound generating display device, which generatessound by directly vibrating a display panel.

Further, among various types of organic light emitting display panels,the organic light emitting display panel formed by simply attachingmultiple layers or substrates can minimize degradation of the imageoutput characteristic despite the direct vibration of the display panelto generate sound.

Moreover, among the top emission and bottom emission type devices, anexemplary aspect is the bottom emission type device in which theencapsulation layer having no light emitting device is in direct contactwith the sound generating actuator, and thus can minimize degradation ofthe image quality by vibrating the light emitting device at the time thedisplay panel is vibrated to generate sound.

Also, a support hole may be formed through a support part of the organiclight emitting display device and the sound generating actuator may beinserted in and fixed to the support hole. Therefore, the organic lightemitting display device may have a reduced thickness, resulting inimproved sound generation.

In addition, the display device may include a sound generating bafflepart coupled to the organic light emitting display panel and a supportstructure thereof at an edge of an air gap for transferring sound, whichenhances sealing of the air gap, thereby enhancing sound output andpreventing sound leakage.

In another exemplary aspect, an organic light emitting display devicecomprising: an organic light emitting display panel including a lightemitting layer and an encapsulation layer disposed at one side of thelight emitting layer, the light emitting layer including a substrate, aplurality of thin film transistors arranged on the substrate, and anorganic light emitting material layer to emit light between twoelectrode layers disposed at one side of the thin film transistors; anda sound generating actuator disposed to be in contact with one surfaceof the organic light emitting display panel and configured to vibratethe organic light emitting display panel to generate sound.

The organic light emitting display panel of the organic light emittingdisplay device may be a bottom emission type organic light emittingdisplay panel in which light of the organic light emitting materiallayer is emitted through the substrate.

The light emitting layer and the encapsulation layer of the organiclight emitting display device may be sequentially laminated under theimage displaying plane, and the sound generating actuator may bedisposed to be in contact with the encapsulation layer, such that asurface through which light of the organic light emitting display panelis emitted is designated as the image displaying plane.

The light emitting layer of the organic light emitting display devicemay comprise the substrate, the thin film transistors, and the organiclight emitting material layer, which are sequentially arranged under theimage displaying plane, and a polarization layer being further disposedon the substrate.

The support part of the organic light emitting display device may be acover bottom, the lower plate further including an extension partextending outward, the extension part being fixed to a lower surface ofthe cover bottom.

The sealing member of the organic light emitting display device may havea thickness larger than the thickness of the adhesive member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a speaker included in a conventionaldisplay device;

FIGS. 2A to 2C are schematic views of a display device including a panelvibration type sound generating apparatus according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure, where FIG. 2A is a plan view, and FIGS. 2B and2C are sectional views;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are sectional views of a liquid crystal display deviceincluding a backlight unit;

FIG. 4 illustrates a sound generating actuator according to anembodiment of the present disclosure, which is installed in a liquidcrystal display device;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an organic light emitting displaypanel used in a display device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a top emission type organic light emittingdisplay panel in which light is emitted toward a Thin Film Transistor(TFT) with reference to a substrate of a light emitting layer thereof;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are sectional views of a bottom emission type organiclight emitting display panel applicable to a display device according toan embodiment of the present disclosure, where FIG. 7A illustrates acase of employing color-specific organic light emitting layers and FIG.7B illustrates a case of using a white organic light emitting layer anda color filter layer;

FIG. 8 is a detailed sectional view illustrating a lamination structureof a bottom emission type organic light emitting display panel accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are sectional views of two types of sound generatingactuators according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate a state in which a sound generatingactuator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure vibrates adisplay panel to generate sound;

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate an example of a coupling state between asound generating actuator according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure and a cover bottom, which is a supporting structure of adisplay device;

FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate other embodiments of a coupling statebetween a sound generating actuator and a cover bottom;

FIG. 13 illustrates a case in which an air gap configured to receivegenerated sound is limited by an external frame of the sound generatingactuator;

FIGS. 14A to 14C illustrate an example of a baffle part according to anembodiment of the present disclosure, formed between a display panel anda middle cabinet. The baffle part is a structure for supporting thedisplay panel to form a sound transferring air gap between the displaypanel, which serves as a vibrating plate, and a cover bottom; and

FIG. 15 is a graph illustrating a sound output characteristic when usinga panel vibration type sound generating apparatus according to thepresent embodiment, in comparison with a conventional speaker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings. In assigning referencenumerals to elements in the drawings, the same elements will bedesignated by the same reference numerals as far as possible althoughthey are illustrated in different drawings. Further, in the followingdescription of the present invention, a detailed description of knownfunctions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when itmay make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

In addition, terms, such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b) or the likemay be used herein in describing elements of the present invention. Eachof these terminologies is not used to define a type, order or sequenceof a corresponding component but used merely to distinguish thecorresponding component from other component(s). In the case that it isdescribed that a certain element “is connected to”, “is coupled to”, or“is connected with” another element, it should be understood that notonly can the certain element be directly connected or coupled to theanother element, but an additional element may also be “interposed”between the elements or the elements may be connected or coupled to eachother through an additional element.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are schematic views of a display device including a panelvibration type sound generating apparatus according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure, wherein FIG. 2A is a plan view and FIGS. 2B and2C are sectional views.

As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, a display device according to thisembodiment includes a display panel 100 configured to display an image,and a sound generating actuator 200 which is attached to a surface ofthe display panel and vibrates the display panel to generate sound.

A display device according to another exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure, which is described below in more detail withreference to FIGS. 4 to 7B, is a device having a sound generatingactuator 200 attached to a display panel 100 to directly vibrate thedisplay panel 100 and thereby generate sound. In this configuration, anorganic light emitting display panel is used as the display panel 100.

The display panel 100 is a display panel directly vibrated by the soundgenerating actuator 200 to generate sound, and includes, in principle,all types of display panels including a liquid crystal display panel, anOrganic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) display panel, and a Plasma DisplayPanel (PDP), and is not limited to a specific display panel, as long asthe display panel is directly vibrated by the sound generating actuator200 to generate sound wave.

However, when the display panel is a liquid crystal display panel, thedisplay panel has many laminated layers and requires an indirect lightsource, such as a back-light having a separate light source disposedtherein. Therefore, it is difficult to install the sound generatingactuator 200. Moreover, when the liquid crystal display panel isdirectly vibrated, the directivity of the liquid crystal material may beshaken, thereby causing distortion of an image.

In contrast, an organic light emitting element is a self light-emittingelement, and does not require a separate light source. Instead, theorganic light emitting element has one panel in which multiple layersincluding a polarization layer, a glass substrate, and an encapsulationlayer are integrated. Therefore, even when the OLED display panel isdirectly vibrated by the sound generating actuator 200, the vibrationhas very little effect on the light emitting property of the organiclight emitting layer and thus does not cause any image distortion.

In another exemplary embodiment, a display device includes the organiclight emitting display panel 100 as a display panel, which is describedbelow in detail with reference to FIGS. 3A to 5.

Especially, in a top emission type organic light emitting display panellight is emitted toward a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) disposed on a glasssubstrate of a light emitting panel layer, unlike in the bottom emissionorganic light emitting display panel, in which the light is emitted in aopposite direction thereof.

Among the above-discussed top emission and bottom emission type devices,a display panel of the present embodiment employs the bottom emissionscheme, which can reduce the degradation of the screen quality by thedirect vibration of the panel and can also reduce the thickness andweight of the entire panel to enable the panel to have an excellentsound generating characteristic by vibration, which is described belowin detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are sectional views of liquid crystal display deviceseach including a backlight unit, where an edge type backlight unit isused in FIG. 3A and a direct type backlight unit is used in FIG. 3B.FIG. 4 illustrates a liquid crystal display device in which a soundgenerating actuator according to an embodiment of the present disclosureis installed.

The liquid crystal display device shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B includes: aliquid crystal display panel 140; a back light unit 120 or 160 disposedthereunder to irradiate light onto the display panel 140; and a coverbottom 110, which supports the back light unit, extends over theentirety of the rear surface of the display device, and may be made ofmetal or plastic.

The liquid crystal display device may further include: a guide panel 130configured to support a light source housing 127 of the backlight unitat one side surface thereof and the display panel 140 at the topthereof; and a case top 150 configured to surround a side surface of thecover bottom or guide panel and extend to a part of the front surface ofthe display panel.

The liquid crystal display device described above includes a backlightunit for providing light to the display panel, and the backlight unitmay be divided into an edge type backlight unit and a direct typebacklight unit according to the arrangement of the light source and thetype of light transfer.

The edge-type backlight unit 120 as shown in FIG. 3A may include: alight source 128, such as an LED, and a light source housing 127, whichare arranged at one side of the display device, the light source housingincluding a holder configured to fix the light source, a light sourcedriving circuit, etc.; a Light Guide Plate (LGP) 124 configured todiffuse light to the entire panel area; a reflection plate 122configured to reflect light toward the display panel; and at least oneoptical sheet 126 disposed on the light guide plate to improveluminance, diffuse the light, and protect the light guide plate.

In the edge-type backlight unit, light from the light source enters, isspread over the entire surface of the display device through totalreflection thereof by the light guide plate, and then exits toward thedisplay panel.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the direct type backlight unit 160 may include alight source PCB 161 disposed on a cover bottom 110, a diffusion plate165 disposed above and spaced a predetermined distance apart from thelight source PCB to diffuse the light, at least one optical sheet 166disposed on the diffusion plate, and a plurality of Diffusion PlateSupports (DPSs) 164 arranged on the light source PCB 161 to prevent adeflection of the diffusion plate.

The light source PCB 161 is disposed on the entire surface of thedisplay device, and a plurality of LED chips 162, which are lightsources, and light diffusion lenses 163 configured to diffuse light fromthe light sources are arranged on the light source PCB.

The liquid crystal display panel 140 used in the liquid crystal displaydevice includes: a plurality of gate lines; a plurality of data lines;pixels defined at intersecting areas between the gate lines and datalines; an array substrate including a thin-film transistor, which is aswitching device configured to adjust a light transmission degree ateach pixel; an upper substrate including a color filter and/or a blackmatrix; and a liquid crystal material layer disposed between a pixelelectrode and a common electrode.

In the liquid crystal display panel, when a predetermined electric fieldis established between the pixel electrode and the common electrode by aswitching of a thin film transistor, the liquid crystal material layerhas a changed transmittance based on a predetermined alignmentcharacteristic based on the electric field.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, when the liquid crystal display panel isdirectly vibrated by a sound generating actuator, the alignment of theliquid crystal material may be altered to change the transmittance ofthe pixels, thereby distorting an image.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when a liquid crystal display device has asound generating actuator 200 mounted therein, the sound generatingactuator may extend through or be installed on a part of the backlightunit 120.

As a result, the light may not be transferred to a pixel or pixelsarranged above the area through or on which the sound generatingactuator is disposed, thereby generating a corresponding shadow zone.

Therefore, in a display device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the display panel to which the sound generating actuator isdirectly attached is limited to an organic light emitting display panel.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an organic light emitting displaypanel used in a display device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, an organic light emitting display deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes, in alarge part, an organic light emitting display panel 100 and a soundgenerating actuator 200 which is attached to a surface of the organiclight emitting display panel 100 and vibrates the organic light emittingdisplay panel 100 to generate sound.

The organic light emitting display panel according to the presentembodiment may be divided into a top emission type panel and a bottomemission type panel according to the direction in which the light fromthe organic light emitting material layer progresses.

In brief, in the top emission type organic light emitting display panel,the light generated in the organic light emitting material layerprogresses upward, which is opposite to the substrate of the lightemitting layer, and one surface, which is opposite to the substrate,serves as an image displaying plane.

In contrast, in the bottom emission type organic light emitting displaypanel, the light generated in the organic light emitting material layerprogresses toward the substrate of the light emitting layer and isemitted through the substrate, and the outer surface the substrate ofthe light emitting layer serves as an image displaying plane.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, it may be more advantageous touse the bottom emission type organic light emitting display panel, whichis described hereinafter in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a top emission type organic light emittingdisplay panel in which light is emitted toward a Thin Film Transistor(TFT) and away from a substrate of the light emitting layer thereof.

As shown in FIG. 6, the top emission type organic light emitting displaypanel 1100 may include a light emitting layer 1180 and an encapsulationlayer 1190 disposed at one side of the light emitting layer to protectthe light emitting layer.

The light emitting layer 1180 is an array including a self-emissiveorganic light emitting material layer, and is formed by sequentiallylaminating a glass substrate 1182, a TFT layer 1184 including aplurality of TFTs arranged on the glass substrate 1182; and an organiclight emitting material layer 1186 disposed at one side of the TFTlayer.

Although not illustrated, a first electrode (anode or cathode) and asecond electrode (cathode or anode), which are connected to a source ordrain electrode of a TFT, are also included, and the organic lightemitting material layer is disposed between the two electrode layers.

According to an electric potential difference generated between the twoelectrodes by a switching operation of the TFT, the organic lightemitting device emits light through self-emission.

From among the two side surfaces of the light emitting layer, the sideat which the glass substrate is disposed is protected by the glasssubstrate from introduction of external moisture or alien materials.However, the side opposite to the glass substrate, that is, the side atwhich the organic light emitting display layer is disposed, needs to beprotected from external moisture or alien materials, which may beintroduced thereinto.

The encapsulation layer 1190 is a protective layer used for thispurpose, and is attached to the upper surface of the organic lightemitting material layer of the light emitting layer to prevent theorganic light emitting device from being damaged.

In the present specification, the encapsulation layer is not limited,and should be construed to include all types of protective layers whichcan protect an organic light emitting material layer of a light emittinglayer of an organic light emitting display panel, and may be expressedby another term, such as a protective layer, a second substrate layer,etc.

In the top emission type panel as illustrated in FIG. 6, the light isemitted in a direction opposite to the glass substrate 1182 and an imagedisplaying plane is placed in the direction of light emission, and theencapsulation layer 1190 is disposed directly on the outer surface ofthe organic light emitting material layer 1186.

The sound generating actuator 200 is attached to the glass substrate1182 of the light emitting layer 1180 at an opposite side to the imagedisplaying plane.

In the top emission type panel, the organic light emitting materiallayer 1186 including light emitting devices of various colors includingR, G, and B is disposed directly under the image displaying plane, andtwo colors may be mixed when the display device is viewed in a wideviewing angle.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, since an organic light emitting materiallayer of R, G, and B is disposed adjacent to the image displaying plane,a color-mixture zone A formed by mixing of two colors may be observedbetween the red R and the green G zones in a wide viewing angle.

Therefore, when a sound generating actuator according to an embodimentof the present disclosure is applied to the top emission type organiclight emitting display panel, the vibration of the organic lightemitting display panel may intensify the color mixing as describedabove, which may thereby degrade the screen quality.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, in the top emission type panel, theencapsulation layer 1190 is disposed at the side of the image displayingplane. Therefore, a transparent encapsulation layer 1190 is required,and may be made of a glass material, and the like.

Also, in the top emission type panel, the encapsulation layer 1190serves as the image displaying plane exposed to a viewer and is thusrequired to have at least a predetermined strength to be robust againstan external impact, etc.

Therefore, in the top emission type panel, the encapsulation layer 1190may be formed as a glass layer having a first thickness T1, which isrelatively thick. In a large TV, etc., the first thickness T1 of theencapsulation layer 1190 is required to have a value of at least about 1mm.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a sound generating actuatoruses a display panel as a vibration plate and directly vibrates thedisplay panel to generate sound. Therefore, when the display panel isthick or heavy, it is difficult for the actuator to vibrate the displaypanel, which may hinder sound generation, or reduce the magnitude of theoutput sound.

In consideration of such disadvantages of the top emission type organiclight emitting display panel, an embodiment of the present disclosureuses a bottom emission type organic light emitting display panel, whichis described below in detail.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are sectional views of a bottom emission type organiclight emitting display panel applicable to a display device according toan embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7A illustrates anexemplary display panel that includes color-specific glass lightemitting layers and FIG. 7B illustrates an exemplary display panel thatincludes a White Organic Light Emitting Device (WOLED) layer and a colorfilter layer. The following description discusses FIG. 7A as arepresentative example.

FIG. 7A illustrates a structure in which the light emitting materiallayer 1219 of the light emitting layer 1280 may not include a separatecolor filter, but is configured by organic light emitting materialsoutputting lights of corresponding colors (R, G, and B), respectively,and FIG. 7B illustrates a structure in which the organic light emittingmaterial layer is a white light emitting material layer 1264 isconfigured to emit a white light and a color filter layer 1248 isdisposed on the white organic light emitting material layer.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the organic light emitting displaypanel 1200 of the organic light emitting display device according to anembodiment of the present disclosure may include an encapsulation layer1290 to which a sound generating actuator 200 is attached, a lightemitting layer 1280 disposed on the encapsulation layer, and apolarization layer 1270 disposed on the light emitting layer.

The light emitting layer 1280 is an array substrate including aself-emissive organic light emitting material layer, and is formed bysequentially laminating a substrate 1211 made of glass, a TFT layer 1214including a plurality of TFTs arranged on the glass substrate 1211; andan organic light emitting material layer 1219 disposed at one side ofthe TFT layer.

As described in more detail with reference to FIG. 8, a first electrode(anode or cathode) and a second electrode (cathode or anode) areconnected to a source or drain electrode of a TFT, and the organic lightemitting material layer 1219 is disposed between the two electrodelayers.

When an electric potential difference is generated between the twoelectrodes by a switching operation of the TFT, the organic lightemitting device emits light through self-emission.

In this event, one surface of the polarization layer 1270 serves as theimage displaying plane on which an image is displayed, and thepolarization layer 1270, the light emitting layer 1280, and theencapsulation layer 1290 are sequentially arranged under the imagedisplaying plane. In some cases, the polarization layer 1270 may beomitted.

In the structures shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, light emitted from theorganic light emitting material layer progresses through the thin filmtransistor layer 1214 and the substrate 1211. Therefore, on a premisethat the substrate 1211 is at the lower side (bottom side), theillustrated panels are expressed as bottom emission type panels in whichthe light is emitted toward the substrate (bottom).

In the bottom emission type organic light emitting display panel 1200,the encapsulation layer 1290 is disposed adjacent to the organic lightemitting material layer 1219 to protect the organic light emittingmaterial layer 1219.

Therefore, although the encapsulation layer 1190 is disposed at the sideof the image displaying plane in the top emission type panel (see e.g.,FIG. 6), the encapsulation layer 1290 is disposed at the side oppositeto the image displaying plane and the sound generating actuator 200 isattached to the encapsulation layer 1290 in the bottom emission typepanel as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

In the bottom emission type panel as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, since theencapsulation layer 1290 is disposed at the side opposite to the imagedisplaying plane, the encapsulation layer 1290 may be made from anon-transparent material and not need to be rigid enough to provideprotection from external impact.

That is, in the bottom emission type panel, the encapsulation layer 1290may function only to block moisture or alien materials.

Therefore, the encapsulation layer 1290 of the organic light emittingdisplay panel according to this embodiment may be a metal thin filmhaving a second thickness T2 smaller than the first thickness T1 of theencapsulation layer 1190 of the top emission type panel.

In an exemplary embodiment, the second thickness of the encapsulationlayer 1290 may have a value of about 0.05 to 0.2 mm.

The material of the encapsulation layer 1290 of the organic lightemitting display panel is not limited to metal and may include allmaterials which can protect the organic light emitting material layerand can be configured as a thin film.

Further, the encapsulation layer 1290 may be made of a metal materialhaving a predetermined reflection property or higher.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the light emitted from the organic lightemitting material layer 1219 may be output to the image displaying planewhich is opposite to the encapsulation layer 1290. Therefore, when theencapsulation layer 1290 is made of a metal material having apredetermined reflection property or higher, the encapsulation layer1290 functions as a reflection plate, which can improve the opticalefficiency of the display panel.

In another exemplary embodiment, the encapsulation layer 1290 may bemade of an iron-nickel alloy, a so-called Invar™ metal material, toprevent hydrogen or oxygen from entering the organic light emittingmaterial layer 1219 and oxidizing the organic light emitting device.

The bottom emission type organic light emitting display panel accordingto embodiments of the present disclosure shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B hasthe organic light emitting material layer 1219, which is disposed awayfrom the image displaying plane, and thus can minimize the color mixingphenomenon in a large viewing angle as described with reference to FIG.6. The bottom emission type organic light emitting display panel is moreadvantageous than the top emission type organic light emitting displaypanel in that the former has nearly no observed color mixing phenomenoneven when the display panel is vibrated to generate sound.

Further, the bottom emission type organic light emitting display panelaccording to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can reducethe thickness of the encapsulation layer, in comparison with the topemission type panel shown in FIG. 6.

By reducing the thickness and weight of the display panel to be vibratedto generate sound, the bottom emission type organic light emittingdisplay panel allows the sound generating actuator to easily generatethe vibration, has an improved sound reproduction performance, and canincrease the sound output compared to a top emission type device whenusing the same actuator.

FIG. 7B illustrates a panel in which the organic light emitting materiallayer is a White Organic Light Emitting Device (WOLED) layer 1264emitting a white light and a color filter layer 1248 disposed on theWOLED layer.

Since the optical efficiency of a white organic light emitting device isusually better than that of other color-specific organic light emittingdevices, the structure shown in FIG. 7B can further improve the opticalefficiency of the organic light emitting display device.

As described above, use of an organic light emitting display panel as adisplay panel in a display device, where the display panel is directlyvibrated to generate sound facilitates the arrangement of the soundgenerating actuator and can prevent the sound generating actuator fromdegrading the screen quality.

FIG. 8 is a detailed sectional view illustrating a lamination structureof a bottom emission type organic light emitting display panel used invarious exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

For convenience of description, the light emitting direction or theimage displaying plane is oriented downward in FIG. 8, contrary to theorientation shown in FIG. 7.

As shown in FIG. 8, the polarization layer 1270 is disposed on the imagedisplaying plane, a light emitting layer 1280 is laminated on and incontact with the polarization layer, an encapsulation layer 1290 isdisposed on one surface of the light emitting layer 1280, and the soundgenerating actuator 200 is attached to the encapsulation layer 1290.

Hereinafter, elements of the light emitting layer 1280 of the bottomemission type organic light emitting display panel according to anexemplary embodiment are described in detail.

On a substrate 1211 of the light emitting layer 1280, a buffer layer1220, a light blocking layer 1222, a first interlayer insulation film1224, a semiconductor layer 1226, a gate insulation film 1228, a gateelectrode 1230, a second interlayer insulation film 1232, a sourceelectrode 1242, a drain electrode 1244, a third interlayer insulationfilm 1246, a color filter 1248, a planarization layer 1250, a firstelectrode 1260, a bank 1262, an organic light emitting material layer1264, a second electrode 1266, and a passivation layer 1268 may bearranged.

The substrate 1211 of the light emitting layer 1280 may be a glasssubstrate without being limited thereto, and may be a plastic substrateincluding polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate(PEN), and polyimide.

The buffer layer 1220 is a layer for blocking permeation of alienmaterial into the substrate 1211 or improving the interfacecharacteristic or the degree of flatness, and may be configured as asingle layer or multiple layers made of silicon nitride (SiNx) orsilicon oxide (SiOx).

The light blocking layer 1222 is a layer for blocking light incident toa channel area of the semiconductor layer 1226. To this end, the lightblocking layer may be configured as a metal layer which is opaque toblock the light. Further, the light blocking layer 1222 may beelectrically connected to the drain electrode 1244 to prevent generationof a parasitic capacitance.

The first interlayer insulation film 1224 insulates the light blockinglayer 1222 and the semiconductor layer 1226 from each other. This firstinterlayer insulation film 1224 includes an insulating material and maybe laminated on the buffer layer 1220 and the light blocking layer 1222.

The semiconductor layer 1226 includes silicon (Si) and is disposed onthe first interlayer insulation film 1224, and may include an activearea establishing a channel, and a source area and a drain area, whichare arranged at both sides of the active area and doped with a highconcentration of impurities.

The gate insulation film 1228 insulates the semiconductor layer 1226 andthe gate electrode 1230 from each other. The gate insulation film 1228may include an insulating material and may be laminated on thesemiconductor layer 1226.

The gate electrode 1230 is disposed on the gate insulation film 1228 andreceives a gate voltage supplied from a gate line.

The second interlayer insulation film 1232 protects the gate electrode1230 and insulates the gate electrode 1230, the source electrode 1242,and the drain electrode 1244 from one another. This second interlayerinsulation film 1232 may include an insulating material and may belaminated on the first interlayer insulation film 1224, thesemiconductor layer 1226, and the gate electrode 1230.

The source electrode 1242 and the drain electrode 1244 are disposed onthe second interlayer insulation film 1232 and are in contact with thesemiconductor layer 1226 through a first contact hole and a secondcontact hole, respectively, formed through the second interlayerinsulation film 1232. The drain electrode 1244 is in contact with thelight blocking layer 1222 through a third contact hole.

The source electrode 1242 and the drain electrode 1244, thesemiconductor layer 1226 in contact with these electrodes, and the gateinsulation film 1228 and the gate electrode 1230 disposed on thesemiconductor layer 1226 may configure the thin film transistor layer1214.

The third interlayer insulation film 1246 protects the source electrode1242 and the drain electrode 1244.

The color filter 1248 may be disposed to overlap with the organic lightemitting material layer 1264 on the second interlayer insulation film1232 to change the color of light emitted toward the substrate 1211 inthe bottom emission type panel.

The planarization layer 1250 may protect the source electrode 1242 andthe drain electrode 1244 and may planarize the surface on which thefirst electrode 1260 is disposed.

The first electrode 1260 is disposed on the planarization layer 1250 andis in contact with the drain electrode 1244 through a fourth contacthole formed though the planarization layer 1250. The first electrode1260 functions as an anode electrode, and has a relatively large workfunction value and may be made of a transparent conductive material toallow the light generated in the organic light emitting material layer1264 to pass therethrough.

For example, the first electrode 1260 may be made from a metallic oxidesuch as Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) or Indium Zinc Oxide (IZO), a compound ofa metal and an oxide such as ZnO:Al or SnO2:Sb, a conductive polymersuch as poly(3-methylthiophen), poly[3,4-(ethylen-1,2-dioxy)thiophen](PEDT), polypyrrole, and polyaniline, and the like. Further, the firstelectrode 1260 may be made of Carbon Nanotube (CNT), graphene, silvernano wire, and the like.

The organic light emitting material layer 1264 is disposed on the firstelectrode 1260 and may be configured as a single layer made of a lightemitting material or multiple layers including a hole injection layer, ahole transfer layer, a light emitting layer, an electron transfer layer,and an electron injection layer. This organic light emitting materiallayer 1264 may be a white light organic light emitting material layerconfigured to output white light, and may be applied over the entiresurface without being patterned. The organic light emitting materiallayer 1264 does not require a patterning process, and thus, can simplifythe process and reduce cost.

The second electrode 1266 is disposed on the organic light emittingmaterial layer 1264, is a cathode electrode (negative electrode), andmay be made of a conductive material having a relatively small workfunction value. The second electrode 1266 may be configured as a singlelayer of a single metal including Ag or an alloy further including Mg ata predetermined proportion, or multiple layers thereof.

The first electrode 1260 is connected to the thin film transistor, thesecond electrode 1266 is disposed to face the first electrode 1260, andthe organic light emitting material layer 1264 is disposed between thefirst electrode 1260 and the second electrode 1266, and may becollectively referred to as an organic light emitting device.

When a predetermined voltage is applied between the first electrode 1260and the second electrode 1266, a hole injected from the first electrode1260 and an electron provided by the second electrode 1266 aretransferred to the organic light emitting material layer 1264 to createan exciton. Energy is generated when this exciton shifts from an excitedstate to a ground state, and the energy is emitted in the form ofvisible light rays.

The bank is disposed on an edge of the first electrode 1260 and may havean opening through which the first electrode 1260 is exposed. The bankmay be made of an inorganic insulation material, such as SiOx, SiNx, orSiON.

The passivation layer 1268 protects the organic layer from moisture andoxygen and may have a multi-layer structure including an inorganicmaterial, an organic material, and a mixture thereof.

Each of the light blocking layer 1222, the gate electrode 1230, thesource electrode 1242, and the drain electrode 1244 may include a lowreflective layer 1271 at an upper part thereof. The low reflective layercan prevent reflection of an external light to prevent degradation ofvisibility, a decrease in luminance, degradation of contrast rangecharacteristic, and the like.

The low reflective layer 1271 may be formed of a material that absorbsexternal light introduced through the substrate 1211, or may be coatedwith a light absorbent. Here, the external light may refer to anon-polarized light which has not passed through a polarizing plate or apolarizing layer.

The material that absorbs external light may be formed of a metal thatabsorbs light, or an alloy thereof, and may have a black-based color.For example, the low reflective layer 1271 may be made of one of Mo, Cr,Ti, Nb, Mn, and Ta, or an alloy thereof. However, embodiments are notlimited thereto, and may include any metal that absorbs light.Accordingly, the low reflective layer 1271 can prevent external lightfrom being reflected again to the outside.

Further, the low reflective layer 1271 may be made of a metal oxide oran alloy of a metal absorbing light and a metal oxide, and thus canblock light introduced from the outside. In a preferred embodiment, thelow reflective layer 1271 may be made of a metal oxide, such as IndiumTin Oxide (ITO), Indium Zinc Oxide (IZO), or Indium Tin Zinc Oxide(ITZO). In this embodiment, external light is not reflected back to theoutside because of the destructive interference between light reflectedby a surface of the low reflective layer 1271 and the light that passesthrough the low reflective layer 1271 and is then reflected by aninterface between the conductive layer and the low reflective layer1271.

The organic light emitting display panel 1200 according to an exemplaryembodiment may further include a transmittance adjustment film (notillustrated) and/or a transparent multi-layer film (not illustrated)disposed at one surface of the substrate 1211 to absorb light having awavelength in the visible range.

The transmittance adjustment film absorbs the light entering thesubstrate 1211 from the outside and thus can greatly lower thereflectance of the substrate 1211 through absorption of external lightwith a predetermined transmittance ratio.

The transparent multi-layer film has a laminated structure including aplurality of refraction layers having different refractive ratiosbetween adjacent layers, and removes external light by destructiveinterference of light reflected by refraction layers having variousrefractive ratios to reduce the reflectance of the external light.

The transmittance adjustment film and/or transparent multi-layer film asdescribed above may form the polarization layer 1270 or a part thereof.

The sound generating actuator 200 according to an exemplary embodiment,which is described below in more detail with reference to FIGS. 9A and9B, includes a magnet, a plate supporting the magnet, a center poleprotruding from a central area of the plate, and a bobbin disposed tosurround the center pole and having a coil wound thereon, to which anelectric current for generating sound is applied, wherein a distal endof the bobbin is attached to one surface of the display panel.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, the organic light emitting displaydevice according to this embodiment may include a support partconfigured to support one or more of the rear surface or a side surfaceof the display panel, and the plate of the sound generating actuator isfixed to the support part.

The support part includes a cover bottom 300 disposed at the rearsurface of the organic light emitting display panel 100, and may furtherinclude a middle cabinet 500 which is coupled to the cover bottom. Themiddle cabinet 500 surrounds the side surface of the organic lightemitting display panel and receives and supports one side edge of thedisplay panel.

The cover bottom of the support part may be a plate-shaped member madeof metal or plastic extending over the entire rear surface of thedisplay device.

The cover bottom 300 in the present disclosure is not limited to theterm thereof but other expressions may be used to describe this feature,such as a plate bottom, a back cover, a base frame, a metal frame, ametal chassis, a chassis base, or m-chassis, and may include all typesof frames or plate-shaped structures, which are arranged on the rearbase part of the display device for supporting the display panel.

The organic light emitting display device according to this embodimentmay further include a baffle part 400 configured to form an air gap,which is a space disposed between the organic light emitting displaypanel 100 and a support part, i.e., the cover bottom 300 or the middlecabinet 500, to transfer the generated sound wave.

By coupling the organic light emitting display panel to the cover bottom300 at an edge of the air gap 600 and sealing the same, the air gap maybe defined as an area sealed in all directions, and such a sealed airgap may be expressed as a baffle structure.

The baffle part 400 may include an adhesive member 412, which isdisposed at an edge of the cover bottom or middle cabinet and isattached to the lower surface of the display panel, and a sealing part414, which is disposed outside the adhesive member to reinforce thesealing of the air gap 600.

The adhesive member 412 may be a double sided tape. In an exemplaryembodiment, the height of the sealing part 414 is, preferably, higherthan the height of the adhesive member 412.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are sectional views of two types of sound generatingactuators according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

A sound generating actuator 200 of an exemplary embodiment may include amagnet 220, which is a permanent magnet, plates 210 and 210′ configuredto support the magnet, a center pole 230 protruding from a central areaof the plate 210, a bobbin 250 disposed to surround the center pole 230,and a coil 260 wound around the bobbin, where an electric current isapplied to the coil 260 to generate sound.

The sound generating actuator may include a first structure in which themagnet is disposed outside the coil and a second structure in which themagnet is disposed inside the coil.

FIG. 9A illustrates the first structure where the magnet has an annularshape with the coil positioned at the center of the magnet. Thusstructure may be referred to as a dynamic type or an external magnettype.

In the sound generating actuator of the first structure, the lower plate210 is fixed to a support hole 310 formed at the cover bottom 300 andthe magnet 220 is disposed outside the lower plate.

The upper plate 210′ is disposed on the magnet 220, and an externalframe 240 protruding from the upper plate is disposed outside the upperplate.

The center pole 230 protrudes from the central area of the lower plate210 and the bobbin 250 surrounds the center pole 230.

The coil 260 is wound around a lower portion of the bobbin 250, and theelectric current for generating sound is applied to the coil.

A damper 270 may be disposed between an upper part of the bobbin and theexternal frame 240.

The lower plate 210 and the upper plate 210′ fix the sound generatingactuator 200 to the cover bottom 300 while supporting the magnet 220.The lower plate 210 has a cylindrical shape as shown in FIG. 9A, and themagnet 220 having a ring shape is disposed on the lower plate 210, andthe upper plate 210′ is disposed on the magnet.

As the lower plate 210 and the upper plate 210′ are coupled to the coverbottom 300, the magnet 220 disposed between the lower plate 210 and theupper plate 210′ can be both fixed and supported.

The plate may be formed of a material having a magnetic property, suchas a ferrite. The plate is not limited to the term thereof and may bereferred to by another team, such as a yoke.

The center pole 230 and the lower plate 210 may be integrally formed.

The bobbin 250 is a cylindrical structure formed by a paper or aluminumsheet, and the coil 260 is wound around a predetermined lower area ofthe bobbin. A combination of the bobbin and the coil may be referred toas a voice coil.

When an electric current is applied to the coil, a magnetic field isformed around the coil. Due to an external magnetic field formed by themagnet 220, the entire bobbin moves upward while being guided by thecenter pole according to Fleming's Law.

Meanwhile, since the distal end of the bobbin 250 is attached to therear surface of the organic light emitting display panel 100, the bobbinvibrates the organic light emitting display panel based on theapplication or non-application of the electric current, and such avibration generates a sound wave.

An adhesive member 910 configured to attach the bobbin to the organiclight emitting display panel 100 may be disposed on the distal end ofthe bobbin, and the adhesive member may be a double-sided adhesive tape.

Although not illustrated, in addition to the adhesive member, at leastone plate may be arranged on the distal end of the bobbin, and the platemay be integrally formed with the adhesive member 910. The platetransfers the vibration based on the movement of the bobbin to thedisplay panel.

The plate may be made of plastic or metal. In a preferred embodiment,the plate may be made of a metal material to discharge the heatgenerated in the bobbin and the sound generating actuator.

The magnet 220 may be a sintered magnet, such as a barium ferrite, or acast magnet made from an alloy of ferric oxide (Fe2O3), barium carbonate(BaCO3), strontium ferrite having an improved magnetic component,aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), and cobalt (Co), without being limitedthereto.

A damper 270 is disposed between an upper part of the bobbin 250 and theexternal frame 240, and the damper 270 has a wrinkle structure. Thus,the damper can contract or expand to adjust the up-down vibration of thebobbin based on the up-down movement of the bobbin. That is, since thedamper 270 is connected to the bobbin 250 and to the external frame 240,the up-down vibration of the bobbin is restricted by the restoring forceof the damper 270. Specifically, when the bobbin 250 vibrates upwardbeyond a predetermined height or downward beyond a predetermined level,the restoring force of the damper 270 can return the bobbin to itsoriginal position.

The damper may be expressed by another term, such as an edge.

FIG. 9B illustrates the second structure having the magnet disposedinside the coil, which may be referred to as a micro type or an internalmagnet type.

In the sound generating actuator of the second structure, the lowerplate 210 is fixed to a support hole 310 foiled in the cover bottom 300,the magnet 220 is disposed at a central area of the lower plate 210, andthe center pole extends upward from the top of the magnet.

The upper plate 210′ protrudes from a peripheral part of the lowerplate, and the external frame 240 is disposed on the upper edge of theupper plate.

The bobbin 250 is disposed to surround the magnet 220 and the centerpole 230, and the coil 260 is wound around the bobbin 250.

The damper 270 is disposed between the external frame 240 and the bobbin250.

The sound generating actuator of the second structure has a smallerleakage of magnetic flux than that of the first structure and can have asmaller size. However, the sound generating actuator of the secondstructure may undergo reduction of magnetic flux due to heating theNeodymium (Nd) magnet, and is difficult to manufacture.

In an exemplary embodiment, the actuators of both the first structureand the second structure may be used, and the following descriptiondiscusses the first structure as a representative for convenience ofdescription.

The sound generating actuator used in a display device according to thepresent disclosure is not limited to the types illustrated in FIGS. 9Aand 9B, and includes other types of actuators as long as the actuatorscan vibrate a display panel up and down to generate sound in response toapplication of an electric current.

FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate an exemplary embodiment in which a soundgenerating actuator vibrates an organic light emitting display panel togenerate sound.

FIG. 10A illustrates a state in which the electric current has beenapplied, where the center pole connected to the lower surface of themagnet serves as the N pole and the upper plate connected to the uppersurfaces of the magnet serves as the S pole to establish an externalmagnetic field between coil.

In this state, if an electric current for generating sound is applied tothe coil, an applied magnetic field is generated around the coil.Together with the external magnetic field, the applied magnetic fieldgenerates a force to move the bobbin upward.

By this force, the bobbin moves upward and the organic light emittingdisplay panel attached to the distal end of the bobbin moves upward, asshown in FIG. 10A.

In this state, if the application of the electric current is interruptedor the electric current is applied in the opposite direction, a force isgenerated to move the bobbin downward based on the above-discussedprinciples, and the display panel thus moves downward, as shown in FIG.10B.

In this way, according to the direction and magnitude of the electriccurrent applied to the coil, the organic light emitting display panelvibrates up and down to generate sound waves, based on the direction andmagnitude of the electric current applied to the coil.

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate an example of a coupling state between asound generating actuator according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent disclosure and a cover bottom, which is a support part of adisplay device, and FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate other embodiments of acoupling structure between the sound generating actuator and the coverbottom.

The sound generating actuator 200 according to these embodiments may beinserted through and supported by a support hole formed on a coverbottom or back cover, which is a support part of a display device. FIGS.11A to 12B illustrate various support structures.

WIN In the support structure of FIGS. 11A and 11B, a support hole 310 isformed through the cover bottom 300, and at least one among the lowerplate 210 of the sound generating actuator 200, the magnet 220, and theupper plate 210′ is inserted and received in the support hole.

An extension part 212 extending outward from the lower plate isadditionally formed on the lower surface of the lower plate 210, and theextension part 212 is fixed to the lower surface of the cover bottom 300to allow the sound generating actuator 200 to be mounted to the coverbottom.

In this way, when the sound generating actuator 200 is inserted in andfixed to the support hole formed through the cover bottom, the distancebetween the display panel and the cover bottom can be reduced, therebyreducing the overall thickness of the display device.

In other words, although an air gap in which the display panel canvibrate should be arranged between the display panel and the coverbottom, the sound generating actuator inserted in/fixed to the supporthole of the cover bottom can minimize the air gap due to the reducedheight of the sound generating actuator disposed between the rearsurface of the display panel and the inner surface of the cover bottom.

In the structure illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, a screw hole isformed on the rear surface of the cover bottom, and a bolt 320 or ascrew is fastened through the screw hole formed through the extensionpart 212 of the lower plate to the screw hole of the cover bottom to fixthe sound generating actuator to the cover bottom.

In another exemplary embodiment, the connecting feature is not a simplescrew-coupling structure. As illustrated in FIG. 12A a PEM™ nut 330 orself-clinching nut is placed to secure a predetermined distance betweenthe cover bottom 300 and the extension part 212 of the lower plate, andthe actuator is then fixed by the bolt 320.

Use of the PEM™ nut 330 or self-clinching nut as shown in FIG. 12A cansecure a predetermined space between the sound generating actuator andthe cover bottom 300 and thus, can minimize the transfer of vibrationsof the actuator to the cover bottom.

In the structure shown in FIG. 12B, an adhesive member may be disposedbetween the cover bottom and the extension part 212 of the lower plateof the actuator to attach and fix them to each other. The adhesivemember may be a double-sided tape.

When the adhesive member shown in FIG. 12B has a properly adjustedelasticity and thickness, the adhesive member can function as a kind ofdamper to minimize the transfer of the vibration of the actuator to thecover bottom.

The structure shown in FIGS. 11A to 12B, in which the sound generatingactuator 200 attached to the organic light emitting display panel todirectly vibrate the organic light emitting display panel is inserted inand fixed to a support hole formed through the cover bottom can reducethe thickness of the display device in comparison with a structure inwhich the actuator is completely received in the display device.

FIG. 13 illustrates a case in which an air gap configured to receive thegenerated sound is limited by an external frame of the sound generatingactuator.

As described above, in the structure according to exemplary embodimentsin which an organic light emitting display panel directly vibrates togenerate sound, the display panel functions in a manner similar to avibration plate of a speaker.

In a typical sound generating apparatus, a space enclosed by a vibrationplate vibrated by a bobbin and an enclosure surrounding the vibrationplate is a baffle space or an air gap for transferring the vibrations.

The shape and size of the baffle space or air gap determine the soundtone or sound output characteristic. Theoretically, the larger thebaffle space or the air gap, the better the performance of theapparatus.

FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary structure in which an external frame240′ functioning as an enclosure of a speaker is disposed around thebobbin of the sound generating actuator and extends up to and isattached to the organic light emitting display panel 100.

In this structure, an area B of the organic light emitting display paneldefined by the external frame 240′ functions as a vibration plate. As aresult, the space defined by the external frame 240′ and the part B ofthe organic light emitting display panel is the baffle space or air gap600′.

In the structure illustrated in FIG. 13, the baffle space or the air gap600′ and the area B of the organic light emitting display panel, whichgenerates sound, are relatively small, and thus, the display device doesnot have a good sound output characteristic.

Therefore, embodiments of the present disclosure may include the bafflepart 400 illustrated in FIGS. 14A to 14C in an effort to enlarge thebaffle space or air gap and enhance the sealing of the space.

By arranging a baffle part having a sealing structure between an edgepart of the organic light emitting display panel and a support partthereunder, the entire area of the display panel can be substantiallyused as a vibration plate.

FIGS. 14A to 14C illustrate an example of a baffle part formed betweenan organic light emitting display panel and a middle cabinet, which is asupport part for the organic light emitting display panel, which formsan air gap between the organic light emitting display panel, and servesas a vibrating plate, and a cover bottom.

As shown in FIG. 14A, the panel vibration type sound generatingapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment secures an air gap 600,which is a space allowing the panel to be vibrated by the soundgenerating actuator 200, between the organic light emitting displaypanel 100 and a support part (cover bottom 300).

Further, one side of the organic light emitting display panel may becoupled to the support structure of the organic light emitting displaypanel to generate sound waves during the vibration of the organic lightemitting display panel. The generated sound should not leak to theoutside through a side, and the like, of the display device.

To this end, the organic light emitting display device according to anexemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 14A has a baffle part 400 formedbetween the lower surface of the organic light emitting display paneland the support structure.

It is preferred that a predetermined section (that is, air gap) isdefined around the sound generating actuator, a baffle part is disposedbetween the upper surface of the cover bottom or middle cabinet and thelower surface of the display panel at an edge of the section, and thebaffle part 400 includes an adhesive member 412 between the lowersurface of the display panel and the upper surface of the supportstructure of the display device, and a sealing part 414 disposed outsidethe adhesive member.

The section in which the baffle part is formed may be the entire displaypanel area defined by four outer sides of the display panel. However,the section is not limited to such a definition and may be defined by anarea excluding the area in which a source PCB is disposed, as describedbelow.

When two or more sound generating actuators are arranged to implementstereo or three-dimensional sound, two or more sections may beseparately arranged to form the baffle part.

As shown in FIGS. 14A to 14C, the support part of the organic lightemitting display device may include a middle cabinet 500, which iscoupled to the cover bottom and is configured to allow a part of thedisplay panel to be stably placed thereon, in addition to the coverbottom 300, which covers the entire rear surface of the display panel.

The middle cabinet 500 is a frame-shaped member formed along the outerperiphery of the display panel, and includes a horizontal support part502 on which a part of the display panel is stably placed, and avertical support part 504 bent in opposite directions from thehorizontal support part to cover the side surface of the cover bottomand the side surface of the display panel. Therefore, the middle cabinetmay have a shape of a letter “T” in general.

The middle cabinet 500 provides an external ornamental part of the sidesurface of the display device or set apparatus, and may not be used orintegrally foiled with the cover bottom in some cases.

According to the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 14A to 14C, the adhesivemember 412 of the baffle part 400 may be a double-sided tape disposedbetween the upper surface of the horizontal support part of the middlecabinet 500 and the display panel and fixes the lower surfaces of thedisplay panel to the middle cabinet.

The sealing part 414 of the baffle part is placed outside of theadhesive member and preferably has a thickness or height larger than thethickness or height of the adhesive member.

The sealing member 414 may be made from a material having a largeelasticity, such as rubber, and has a thickness t2 larger than thethickness t1 of the adhesive member 412 as illustrated in FIG. 14B.

As illustrated in FIG. 14B, one adhesive surface of the adhesive member412, which is a double-sided tape having a thickness t1, is attached tothe inner part of the upper surface of the horizontal support part 502of the middle cabinet 500, and the sealing part 414 made of an elasticmaterial having a thickness t2 larger than t1 is disposed outside theadhesive member.

In this state, the organic light emitting display panel 100 is attachedto the other adhesive surface of the adhesive member 412. Then, theorganic light emitting display panel is attached to the middle cabinetby pressing, to a certain degree, the sealing part 414 having the largerthickness, as shown in FIG. 14C.

As a result, the sealing of the air gap around the sound generatingactuator and enclosing the air gap is further enhanced.

In the structure illustrated in FIG. 14C, the organic light emittingdisplay panel 100 and the cover bottom 300 are coupled to each otherwhile forming the air gap 600 to be as wide as the thickness of theadhesive member 412. The horizontal support part 502 of the middlecabinet can secure a vibration space in which the display panel cangenerate sound waves, which prevents the internally generated soundwaves from leaking to the outside along the side surface of the displaydevice.

The baffle part 400 disposed at an edge of the air gap, which has adouble structure of the adhesive member 412 and the sealing part 414while allowing the sealing part to have a larger thickness, can furtherenhance the sealing of the air gap and prevent leakage of the sound.

It should be construed that the middle cabinet 500 of the presentdisclosure may be referred to by another term, such as a guide panel, aplastic chassis, a p-chassis, a support main, a main support, or a moldframe, and includes all types of members, which are structures having ashape of a four-sided frame and having a sectional shape includingmultiple bent portions and are connected to the cover bottom to be usedto support the display panel and the baffle part.

The middle cabinet 500 may be made of a synthetic resin, such as apolycarbonate, or a metal material, such as aluminum, and may bemanufactured by a manufacturing method, such as injection molding,without being limited thereto.

Although a middle cabinet is used to support the cover bottom and thedisplay panel in the embodiment described above, the middle cabinet maynot be always required.

Therefore, in some cases, the panel may have a structure in which thecover bottom 300 supports both the first display panel and the seconddisplay panel while forming an external lateral appearance of thedisplay device without the middle cabinet. In such a structure, thebaffle part 400 may be disposed between a part of the edge of the coverbottom and the organic light emitting display panel.

When the middle cabinet does not exist, the cover bottom may have astepped portion formed at an edge thereof and an adhesive member 412 anda sealing part 414 arranged on the upper surface of the stepped portion.

This embodiment has a simple structure without a middle supportstructure and includes a baffle part 400, which is disposed at an edgeof the air gap and has a double structure of the adhesive member 412 andthe sealing part 414 while allowing the sealing part to have a largerthickness.

The thickness of the air gap 600, that is, the distance G, shown in FIG.9A, between the organic light emitting display panel and the coverbottom, may have a value of about 1.0 to 3.0 mm in an exemplaryembodiment. However, the thickness is not limited to this range and mayhave a value in a different range depending on the degree of vibrationof the display panel, and the like.

However, in order to reduce the thickness of the organic light emittingdisplay device, it is preferable to minimize the thickness G of the airgap in consideration of the quantity of vibration of the display panelby the sound generating actuator, the range of sound to be output, andthe quantity of output. In the present embodiment, an optimum thicknessG of the air gap is about 2.0 mm.

FIG. 15 is a graph illustrating the sound output characteristic of apanel vibration type sound generating apparatus as described in thepresent disclosure, in comparison with a conventional speaker.

As a result of experimentation, a rapid sound intensity reduction (soundpressure reduction) as illustrated by the dotted line in FIG. 15 isobserved in the middle/high sound range of 4000 Hz or higher when aspeaker is disposed at the rear surface or the lower end of aconventional display device as shown in FIG.

In contrast, as illustrated by a solid line in FIG. 15, a structure asdescribed in the present disclosure, in which a sound generatingactuator is fixed to a support structure to directly vibrate the organiclight emitting display panel, minimizes sound pressure reduction in themiddle/high sound range, and can greatly improve the sound outputcharacteristic in the high sound range.

Thus, the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can providerich sound output in all sound ranges.

Embodiments of the present disclosure as described above, in which anorganic light emitting display panel other than a liquid crystal displaypanel is used as a display panel for a display device which directlyvibrates the display panel to generate sound, facilitates thearrangement of the sound generating actuator and can prevent the soundgenerating actuator from degrading the screen quality.

Especially, among various types of organic light emitting displaypanels, the bottom emission type organic light emitting display panelcan prevent generation of a weighted color mixing phenomenon in a wideviewing angle at the time of panel vibration and can reduce thethickness or weight of the panel to thereby enhance the sound generationcharacteristic.

The above description and the accompanying drawings provide an exampleof the technical idea of the present invention for illustrative purposesonly. Those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field, to whichthe present invention pertains, will appreciate that variousmodifications and changes in form, such as combination, separation,substitution, and change of configuration, are possible withoutdeparting from the essential features of the present disclosure.Therefore, the embodiments of the present disclosure are intended toillustrate the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, andthe scope of the present invention is not limited to any of theseembodiments. The scope of the present invention shall be construed onthe basis of the accompanying claims in such a manner that all of thetechnical ideas included within the scope equivalent to the claimsbelong to the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An organic light emitting display device,comprising: an organic light emitting display panel including a lightemitting layer and an encapsulation layer disposed on the light emittinglayer, the light emitting layer including a substrate, a plurality ofthin film transistors arranged on the substrate, and an organic lightemitting material layer between two electrode layers disposed on thethin film transistors; a support structure spaced apart from the organiclight emitting display panel to provide an air gap between the supportstructure and the organic light emitting display panel; a soundgenerating actuator connected to a surface of the organic light emittingdisplay panel and configured to vibrate the organic light emittingdisplay panel to generate sound waves in the air gap; and a baffle partspaced apart from the sound generating actuator and disposed between theorganic light emitting display panel and the support structure at anedge of the air gap.
 2. The organic light emitting display device ofclaim 1, wherein the organic light emitting display panel is a bottomemission type organic light emitting display panel.
 3. The organic lightemitting display device of claim 1, wherein the baffle part isconfigured to reduce leakage of the sound waves from the air gap.
 4. Theorganic light emitting display device of claim 1, wherein the supportstructure supports the organic light emitting display panel andcomprises a support hole through the support structure to accommodatethe sound generating actuator.
 5. The organic light emitting displaydevice of claim 4, wherein the support structure covers and supports atleast a rear surface of the organic light emitting display panel, andwherein the sound generating actuator is connected to the support hole.6. The organic light emitting display device of claim 1, wherein thebaffle part comprises at least one of an adhesive member and a sealingpart disposed outside of the adhesive member.
 7. The organic lightemitting display device of claim 1, wherein the sound generatingactuator is directly connected to the rear surface of the organic lightemitting display panel.
 8. The organic light emitting display device ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the two electrode layers is formed of atransparent conductive material.
 9. The organic light emitting displaydevice of claim 1, wherein the support structure is disposed at a rearsurface of the organic light emitting display panel, and an adhesivemember is disposed between the support structure and the soundgenerating actuator.
 10. An organic light emitting display device,comprising: an organic light emitting display panel including a lightemitting layer and an encapsulation layer disposed on the light emittinglayer, the light emitting layer including a substrate, a plurality ofthin film transistors arranged on the substrate, and an organic lightemitting material layer between two electrode layers disposed on thethin film transistors; and a sound generating actuator connected to asurface of the organic light emitting display panel and configured tovibrate the organic light emitting display panel to generate sound,wherein the sound generating actuator comprises: a magnet disposed on aplate; a center pole on the plate; a bobbin disposed to surround thecenter pole and be connected to the display panel; and a coil woundaround the bobbin.
 11. The organic light emitting display device ofclaim 10, wherein the magnet is disposed outside of the coil.
 12. Theorganic light emitting display device of claim 10, wherein the magnet isdisposed inside of the coil.
 13. The organic light emitting displaydevice of claim 10, wherein the sound generating actuator furthercomprises an external frame above the plate, and a damper between thebobbin and the external frame.
 14. The organic light emitting displaydevice of claim 10, further comprising an adhesive member disposedbetween the bobbin and the display panel.
 15. An organic light emittingdisplay device, comprising: an organic light emitting display panel; asound generating actuator disposed at a rear surface of the organiclight emitting display panel and configured to vibrate the organic lightemitting display panel to generate sound; a support structure spacedapart from the organic light emitting display panel to provide an airgap between the support structure and the organic light emitting displaypanel; and a baffle part spaced apart from the sound generating actuatorand disposed at an edge of the air gap between the rear surface of theorganic light emitting display panel and the support structure.
 16. Theorganic light emitting display device of claim 15, wherein the soundgenerating actuator includes two or more sound generating actuators, andthe baffle part includes two or more sections corresponding to the twoor more sound generating actuators.
 17. The organic light emittingdisplay device of claim 16, wherein the two or more sound generatingactuators generate stereo sound or three-dimensional sound.
 18. Theorganic light emitting display device of claim 16, wherein the two ormore sound generating actuators are symmetrically arranged.
 19. Theorganic light emitting display device of claim 15, wherein the organiclight emitting display panel includes a light emitting layer and anencapsulation layer disposed on the light emitting layer, the lightemitting layer includes a plurality of thin film transistors on asubstrate, and an organic light emitting material layer between twoelectrode layers on the thin film transistors.
 20. The organic lightemitting display device of claim 19, wherein at least one of the twoelectrode layers is formed of a transparent conductive material.
 21. Theorganic light emitting display device of claim 15, wherein the soundgenerating actuator is configured to vibrate the organic light emittingdisplay panel to generate sound waves in the air gap; and wherein thebaffle part is configured to reduce leakage of the sound waves from theair gap.